"The Reluctant Fundamentalist" - Movie Review

This blog is part of my academic activity, here you can view the given task...
https://dilipbarad.blogspot.com/2015/09/postcolonial-studies-film-screening.html

Fundamentalist, an extremist. Doesn't matter in which way extremist but it will be always harmful. This one word fundamentalist, makes Changez Khan to think about his decision to help Terrorist. The novel "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" is written by Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid, which is published in 2007. Director Mira Nair's movie "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" which is released in 2012 is also based on this novel.

The novel and movie both follows frame narrative. The story is of young Pakistani boy with American dream, Changez Khan. He is enjoying his life in America and he used to say that he loves America but suddenly one thing happened and it changes his whole life.

The movie starts with the kidnapping of American professor, who is teaching at Lahore university. Then Bobby comes to take interview of Changez, who is also teaching at same university. Bobby is CIA agent. The interview is happening at Lahore cafe and all together there is flashback in which Changez is telling his life in America. Here we can find some post colonial elements also, and I am here trying to see those elements.

First we can see the racism which America practice after the attack on 9/11. Changez is Muslim and Pakistani, and on only this basis he has been arrested also. He also has checked at airport for just being a Pakistani and Muslim.

After the attack his life in America has become terrible. All are looking towards him with doubt, and asking him if he knows anything about the attack. His American girlfriend, Erica also used his identity as Pakistani and not same as any other individual. These things hurt him most. These generalization of people just because of their identity and nationality is something wrong practiced in America. Because of all these thing he leave America and came back to Pakistan.

The idea of loving and believing west countries as superior and better than our own east nation is also a post colonial idea. Like Changez there are many people who wants to go to western countries and find problems in their own countries. But after going there the reality comes face to face and then our nation is more lovable to us. Changez also came back because he realize how the racism works and how west is thinking about east and how they doubt the dignity of people. Then he starts believing in serving his own nation. So he becomes professor at Lahore university and teach students the lessons of non violence and tolerance.

One dialogue spoken by Changez when he starts giving interview to Bobby that "Looks are deceiving." How in post colonial time truth which has been told to us can might be wrong. The generalization of people in America is wrong. Just because person looks different, it doesn't mean they are terrorists. Same way CIA has doubt on Changez for kidnaping of American professor but it is not the case. The proofs on basis of which CIA doubt on Changez are post truths, they are deceiving.

The idea of fundamentalism is also shown very beautifully. It seems very good in business but when Changez hear it from the mouth of terrorist, he comes to know about the damage which this word and the harm of walking on this path can, he denies to accept the path of fundamentalism.

Further than all these things the movie is worth watching. At beginning we have melodies Sufi music and use of Urdu words. The movie kept some suspense also which make watching more interesting and at the end of the movie the words of Changez are worth listening. Which gave us message of not taking eye for an eye and of non violence.

Thank you.